Google Play Edition

Two weeks ago, we pondered the death of Google’s ‘Play edition’ program. At the time, Google Play edition devices had slowly been slipping away from the Play Store, with only the HTC One M8 sticking around. Now, Google has stopped selling that device as well. The Play Store no longer lists any Google Play edition devices, leaving the program itself without a single handset. For fans of the Google Play edition line, it’s sad day, and one that likely marks the end to a more vanilla Android on non-Nexus devices from the OEM themselves.

Google Play edition devices were supposed to be a branch of the Nexus program, where OEMs like Samsung or HTC could peddle their stripped-down wares for us all. Don’t like TouchWiz? Great, keep the hardware and enjoy a GPe Galaxy S4. That was the plan, but it doesn’t seem to have gone so well. With the Google Play edition Galaxy S4 leaving the Play Store, we’re left with one option, and a program that seems to be in decline and on its way out.

Good news for owners of the Google Play Edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4, as the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop has finally begun rolling out for the device. While Samsung's flagship smartphone of 2013 was the first to be given the Google Play Edition treatment, it is actually the last such stock Android device to receive Lollipop.

Do you even know what’s going on with Android? If you’re a new user, probably not. There are a lot of subtle tips and tricks for getting the most out of your Android handset, and Google is finally acknowledging it’s not easy to know what those are. A new app, Device Assist, has landed on the Play Store today, and helps users discover all the neat little ways they can make their device last longer and provide the info they want. Well, so long as you have a Google-y android handset, that is.

Among the more anxious Android fans are those who have Nexus devices. When a new anything comes out, that faction assumes they’re first in line — and rightfully so. The whole scope of Nexus is to give you a direct line to Android as Google envisions it, or at least that was the aim. It seems Google is changing the language regarding updates to Nexus and Google Play edition devices to reflect a new Nexus-y world where carriers have a say.

While we did, honestly, expect the Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition to be launched several months ago at this point, it would seem that they’re finally ready to roll. With the launch of Android 5.0 Lollipop and the official preview we saw courtesy of Samsung itself earlier this month, there can’t be much time between now and the GPE. What with Google’s update of their Android homepage still including the elusive Google Play Edition of the Galaxy S5 alongside the new Nexus family, we have only to ask - what’s the holdup?

This afternoon the team behind the Google Play Devices Shop have made with the updates - Google Play giveth, and Google Play taketh away. What we’re seeing is the reduction of stock with the Google Play Edition devices, to start with. If you’ve not checked over the past few months, you’ll now be shocked to find that the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the original HTC One have completely disappeared from the shop.

Custom cases for smartphones is a rather niche market. Then again, so is the Nexus handset. It seems Google is ready to marry the two, and a leaked program named “Workshop” might be our introduction. Still in its early stages, Workshop is unique, but is it necessary?

With a black background and very little detail to be had, Google has made clear that they’re about to reveal the Samsung Galaxy S5 in Google Play Edition colors. This device will be white from the start, readying itself for release right alongside the already-released Google Play Edition HTC One (M8).

Google’s Play Store has seen some unexpected changes today, with a price drop and potential leak of a new device. The Sony Z Ultra is getting a pretty drastic price drop, while the still-unannounced Galaxy S5 Google Play edition device may have shown up. Is one making way for another, or are these coincidence?